The recent news about Jerry Sandusky, a Penn State football coach accused of molesting at least eight boys over a period of years, parallels stories from the 1990s of child molestation within the Catholic Church. In both cases, there was a man (or several men in the Catholic Church) accused of repeatedly molesting and even raping young children. In both cases, reports of the molestation reached the man's superiors. In both cases, the superiors took minor measures, apparently to try to make sure no further acts of molestation occurred in their places of business. At Penn State, the coaches and other superiors of Jerry Sandusky told him not to bring any more young boys to the college, where many of the attacks allegedly took place. In the Catholic Church, priests who had molested young children were often transferred to other parishes. In both cases, none of the men who supervised the accused molesters contacted the police. None of the men in charge acted to protect the children who had been abused. The men in charge covered up for the accused molester, sweeped the problem under the rug, and went about their business, as if nothing had happened. As if a child had not been sexually abused and likely scarred for the rest of his life. As if more children would not be harmed because of their failures.In both cases, the alleged sexual abuse was allowed to go on for many years. In both cases, the failure of any one of the men in charge to contact the police, insulated the molester from any real consequences, and allowed more victims to be abused. At least in the case of Penn State, two of the men who failed to step up and do the right thing have been charged for their failures.

I'm not sure what this culture of silence and protecting abusive men at the expense of children is about. I have to wonder if a woman had been involved somewhere along the way, whether it would have taken so long for these abuses to come out.

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Blythe Leszkay is a successful and experienced criminal attorney, criminal law professor, and consultant to writers and filmmakers. See About Me. This blog is intended to answer common criminal law questions, dispel misconceptions, and explain misunderstood criminal law concepts. It is also a place to discuss any crime or law related topics of interest. Contact me for a free initial consultation on your film or writing project.